The Bread I Started Making After Everything Changed

After Nathan’s heart attack, a lot of things shifted in our home.

Not overnight. Not perfectly.
Just… slowly becoming more aware of what we were putting into our bodies.

One of the simplest things I started doing was making our own bread.

At first it felt like “one more thing”… but it turned into something I actually look forward to. The smell, the process, knowing exactly what’s in it. It feels like taking care of us in a way I didn’t before.

The Recipe I Started With

I didn’t create this from scratch. I found a recipe that felt doable and started there.

👉 You can find the original recipe I use here: Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

It’s a really good base, especially if you’ve never made bread before.

The Changes I Made (To Fit Our Life Now)

Over time, I started adjusting a few things to better support Nathan’s heart health… and honestly, just how we want to eat now.

Here’s what I do differently:

Milk: I use fat-free milk instead of whole milk

Butter: I swap regular butter for Smart Balance

Salt: I reduce it to 1 teaspoon instead of the full amount

Everything else, I keep pretty much the same.

Nothing extreme. Just small changes that feel more aligned with where we’re at now.

What I’ve Learned Making This

It doesn’t have to be perfect.

My first loaves? Not pretty.
A little dense. A little uneven.

But it didn’t matter.

Because it was ours.
And it was a step toward doing better.

And this is what it turns into.

 

If You’ve Been Thinking About Trying This…

Start.

Even if it feels intimidating. Even if you think you’ll mess it up.

This is actually a really forgiving recipe… and there’s something about making bread that slows everything down in the best way.

A Little More Than Bread

It’s funny… this isn’t really just about bread anymore.

It’s about being more intentional.
About small changes that add up.
About taking care of the people you love in everyday ways.

And this just happens to be one of ours.